EdFix

As a clinician in K-12 education, Adjoa Asamoah witnessed too many injustices in our schools. So she decided to pivot her career to the intersection of policy and politics, where she has worked to tackle systemic inequities across our country. Her efforts to actualize liberty and justice for all have been noticed, and during the last presidential race, she was tapped to be the National Advisor for Black Engagement for the Biden-Harris Campaign based on her ability to engage the community and her record of success.

[Transcript for Episode 22 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

Caroline Adegun began her career as a human resources recruiter. Then a stint working for a celebrity in Los Angeles inspired her to open The Hollywood Wingwoman Talent, the first non-profit talent development firm serving low-income (and sometimes homeless) artists trying to make it in the industry. And recently, she has become a force on social media, taking the new Clubhouse app by storm. With more than 50,000 members now (and growing daily) in her faith-based "club," Caroline channels her background in human development to create a sense of community for people around the world -- at a time when they need it most.

[Transcript for Episode 21 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

Rehabilitation counselors provide independent living support and job readiness training, empowering people with disabilities to integrate more fully into the community. According to Drs. Maureen McGuire-Kuletz and Kenneth Hergenrather, directors of the Center for Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education, there is a pressing need for more rehabilitation professionals as a generation of counselors prepares to retire. They discuss the intersection of disability and poverty, why this population has been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be done to address these challenges.

[Transcript for Episode 20 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

When Titilola Harley's plan to become a teacher got derailed, she decided to channel her business acumen to make a difference in schools. Now she approaches education as a consultant, helping schools and organizations work through challenges they've struggled to address on their own. But even though she uses management tools to guide her recommendations, she firmly believes that teachers are the experts whose voices need to be heard for lasting change to happen, especially for our most vulnerable students.

[Transcript for Episode 19 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

The GW Center on Education Policy (CEP) is celebrating 25 years as a trusted, independent source for education policy research and analysis. Since its founding, citizens and policy makers at all levels have turned to CEP for nonpartisan, evidence-based information about our system of public education. Maria Ferguson, Executive Director of CEP, shares how access to research without "spin"—especially related to controversial programs—is crucial to help create the conditions for better public schools.

[Transcript for Episode 18 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

Dr. Michael Usdan has had a long and distinguished career in education: as a teacher, school board president, university professor, college president, state commissioner of higher education, and institute president. Drawing from many years of experience in K-12 and secondary ed, he shares his thoughts on the advantages and challenges of our highly decentralized system, and whether its possible to address the variability across the U.S. in light of changing demographics and increased inequality.

[Transcript for Episode 17 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

What is the real impact of technology and process transformation on American workers? Are we doing enough to prepare the modern workforce at a time of growing inequality and stagnant wage growth? Dr. Mary Kay Vona, Principal in Ernst & Young LLP's People Advisory Services, and Dr. Ellen Scully-Russ, Associate Professor of Human and Organizational Learning, discuss the changing nature of work, talent shortages in the U.S., and curricula to support the jobs of the future.

[Transcript for Episode 16 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

In today's world of instructional design, there are more tools available than ever before. Educational technology is incorporated across all learning environments, from K-12 and higher education to corporate, government, and military training. So how can teachers design quality instruction using technology to meet a variety of learners' needs? Drs. Michael Corry and Natalie Milman discuss new information delivery methods, artificial intelligence tools, and whether the use of technology in schools has actually lessened the "digital access divide."

[Transcript for Episode 15 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

Heterosexual Black women have the 2nd highest rate of HIV infection as a group; however, Black women in college are nearly ignored in the HIV literature. Dr. Delishia Pittman discusses her research on the shared and unique risk factors of this population, whether online dating has increased the risks, and ongoing racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

[Transcript for Episode 14 available on EdFixPodcast.com]

"Global education" builds cultural competencies, encourages the exchange of ideas and people, and develops human capital. Could the policies and practices of other countries shed light on ways to improve our own schools and colleges, especially in our neediest communities? Dr. James Williams and Dr. Laura Engel discuss lessons learned from abroad, how the U.S. is faring compared to other countries, and whether the rise of nationalism is leading to the end of the golden age of internationalization in education.

[Transcript for Episode 13 is available on EdFixPodcast.com]